Fastener-stock-supplying mechanism for fastener-inserting machines



S. A. DOBYNE. FASTENER STOCK SUPPLYING MECHANISM FR FASTENER INSERTING MACH|NES APPLICATION 'FILED FEB- 26,1919.

' @wanted Nov. 21

15A-3@ @we a, m w. A. M, P ,n a

STEPHEN A. DOBYN'E, OF ST. LO'S, rSSR, ASSGNOR TG @H ,GEEPO SHOE .1, or touts, artesana-r, coaeonarion or irris- FASTENEBSTCK-SUPLYNG LlEC-ANESJH FOR FASTENER-XNSERTNG- JICHNES.

Application filed February 26, 1919.

To afl flu/mm. il" #muy conce/m Be it known that il, cl'rnri'rxsiv' Zi. Deurne; a citizen of the United States; and residingat St. Louis; lli/lissouri, have invented the new and useful improvement in Fasteneriltocl-lnpplying lvlechanism for Fastenerlnserting Machines of which the following is a specication. v

rlhis invention relates to mechanism for feeding strands of fasteners from coiled sources of supply, and more particuhirly7 to means for feeding a strand of connected nails from a reel on which the strand is coiled; to fastener inserting mechanism which severs the nails from the string and drives them.

Fastener inserting machines utilizing strands of connected nails have the fastener stoel: coiled on a reel or reels mounted on the machine; the strand of connected nails is conducted or fed from the coiled source of supply to the voperating means which completely severe the partially vsevered nail from the string and drives it. ln such a machine the string` is fed by the engagement vvith the head of a nail on the string in order tol insure the accurate cutting of the nail just above its head. A stop or pawl is provided to arrest retrograde movement of the strand, this pawl engaging the head of a nail on the string so as to insure accurate positioning of the strand.

rl`his strand should have .its nails as nearly severed possible Without; however7 causing the strand. to become broken, as the 'u'ieration of the machine is therelfsy in-1 terfered with and a piece of work into which the fasteners are driven may thercby become spoiled. Accordingly violent lrii'lling or twisting of the strand must be avoided in order to prevent such parting.

ln order to permit shipment and utilization of the fastener stock, it should, of course; be coiled so as to not only present the smallest possible space, but also to permit ready delivery of the strand. Such a coil should; of course, be Wound as closely as possible in order to not only save space7 but also prevent tanglingl of the coils,

ln order to obtain all of these desirable features, a limitation or difficulty is encountered which is essentially inherent in coiled fastener stock strands and more especially in strands of connected nails. Such Serial No. 279,381.

a strand presents a series of lateral projections; formed by the heads of the nails, which are liable to become caught in the adjacent coils on the reel so that when it is attempted to unreel the strand from its coiled source, the strand is liable to become lrinlred or even broken, Where is the Weakest, namely Where one nail point joins the adjacent nail head.

@ne of the objects of this invention; therefore, is to provide mechanism of the class described Which is constructedto cause release of the strand at the source and to loosen the unwinding coil at source of suprlynother object is to provide mechanism ol" the class described which is constructec to not only insure delivery of the strand but also to prevent binding; kinking and breaking of the strand.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the class described whereby a retrograde tension is applied to the strand in order to insure accurate positioning, feeding and dclivery of the strand to operating meehanisn'i.

Another object is to provide a fastener insertingcmachine of the class described which will employ the desirable features heretofore described, in order to insure accurate7 constant and `certain delivery of the fastener strand to the fastener insertingl mechanism. i p

Further objects will appear from the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing; in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of. a fastener inserting machine showing the mechanism embodying this invention;

Figure 2 fs section on the line 2 2; Figure l, showingmore particularly the reel and auxiliary meclninism;

Figure 8 is a detail showing the attach ment of the reel bracket to the fastener inserting machine;

yFigure l is a section on the line m4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Figure 2; shovving the ratchet and detent mechanism for restraining the movement of the reel;

Figure 6 is another detail of the same mechanism;

Figure 7 1s an kenlarged section on the line 7"?, Figure 6;

ce #1315 i Figure 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8, Figure 2, showing the nail reel; and v Figure 9 isa detail enlarged section showing the feeding and arresting mechanism of the fastener inserting machine.

,Referring to the accompanying drawing, the invention is shown asapplied to a fastener inserting machine of the well known string nail type, the particular embodiment being that shown in application, Serial Number 174,096, filed June 11, 1917.

The fastener inserting machine comprises a machine head 1 mounted on acoluinn 2, a work support 3, a presser foot 4, an awl ,5, a driver 6, a throat 7, a string nail guide 8 providedwith a stop pawl 9 and a feed* ing` and cutting member A10 cooperating with a die 11 onthe throat 7, all as shown in the application heretofore referred to.

1n the operation of this machine, the feeding *andr cutting 'member 10 moves down along the stop pawl 9 which is yielding, until it engages the he'adof the vfirst nail on the string; then moves down to feed'the first nail into the throat 7, being arrested by'engagement with the top face of the throat; the feeding and cutting member then moves along'the throat to the right, 'lligure 9, and

cooperating withthe die 1'1to sever ythe first' nail now in the throat from `the string, the.

nail guide 8 yielding during such movement;

. the feedingl and cutting` member v10 now moves back along 'the string nail guide 8, but as the headof the'nextsucceedingnail has moved below the end ofthe stop `pavvl or plate 9, retrograde movement is prevented as the feedingand cutting Vmember moves over the head of the nail now below the stop pavvl 9.

Mounted on' a cross-beam -15 on the inachine head is a bracket 16. This bracket is provided with an undercut portio'n'17 taking over one 'of the 'flanges' of the beam and having a lip A18 taking underneath'tlie beam.

fr clamping element` 19 has a channel 2O engaging the opposite edge zof lthe beam and has a web 21 engaging a cut out portion 22 in the bracket 16. yUne'or more studs `23 tapped into the bracket passing through the clamping lelement 19 and. provided with nuts r24 operate to securely clamp the bracket in of a sei-ies of reels 29 which may be constructed asl shovvn in `applicationr Serial Number 245,731, filed July 19, 1918.

The shaft 27 is long enough to permit a series of reels to be arranged therealong, de-

pending upon the number of strands of fas-V tener stock which it is intended to employA in the particular machine under consideration.

The shaft 27 -is provided with a seriesl of grooves 30 providing surfaces of smaller diameter than the shaft so as to form side shoulders as shown more particularly in Figure 6. 1fach of these reduced portions the end ofthe tube so threaded to receive a stop nut `-34`and'is encircled by a spring The spring operates to hold the detent in firm engagement With'the ratchet 30 while the stop 34 prevents inward movement too farof the detent when the reel is removed from the sha-ft. 1n order to permit ready placement of the reel onv the shaft, 4theeiid of the latter is coned as shown at 36 so as to permit the detent to readily slide on the shaft. After the reel is in'place, it will Adrop into the reduced portion, and this detent engaging with the shoulders on the reduced portion will effectually retain the reel against endwise Amovement on its shaft. It

will be understood, ofcourse, that the shaft,L

and' more particularly the ratchet portion 30 and the det'entv 31 are hardened to"` prevent wear. v v

Each strand of fastener stock passes vf ioin the reel through an elongated eye 37 mounted orformed on the end of an arm 38, pivoted on a shaft 40, clamped in a vbearing- 41 on an arm 42, formed on yor secured to the bracket 16. The arm 38 is loose on the lshaft 40 and is connected by a spring 43 with an armv44 clamped on the shaft'40 by a suitable screvv 45. Tn this way, the ltension of the spring 43 canbe adjusted by adjustment of the arm 44 lon the shaft 40. llt will be understood vthat there are a series- 'of eyes and their corresponding tension springs arm ranged along the shaft 40, one for each reel, and that the eyes are suitably rounded 'so as tov permit positioning of the strand. HThe arms 38 and 44 are spaced by collars and retained by an end collar 39. f

vThe "strand, passing throughv the eye,v isy v engaged by a yielding finger 46 mounted on a bracket 47 secured by a screw 48 to the machine head. This spriiigfinge'r 46 forms a tensioning ydevice engaging the opposite side Of the 'string 'from thatengaged by the eye 37 and that the string or strand then passes to the string nail guide 8. There are a series of ingers i6 one for each strand.

During` the operation ot the fastener inserting machine, the movement of the 'lieeding and cutting member will, as heretofore described, feed. the strand step by step and intermittently. As the strand is 'lied there is applied. a pull. thereon tending to move the reel in the direction ot the arrow, Figure Il, so as to unwind the coil on the reel. This movement is however, restrained by the engagement ot' the detent on the reel with the ratchet on the shaft. The result is, therefore, that the tension devices 37 and et@ are both placed under tension. Now it will be noted that these tension devices operate oppositely to deectthe strand from its normal course in opposite directions. The tension device 46 will, ot course, yield only slightly, but the tension 3T will yield considerably until it moves to dotted position, Figure l. At this time, the tension between the ratchet and detent overcome, the detent rises to the top of a tooth on the ratchet so that the tension on the reel is suddenly released. |The result, therefore, is that the tension 37 moves suddenly from dotted to tull line position, Figure l, while the linger t6 will suddenly move back with 'the result that a whipping action is imparted to the strand. The strand being lied by the Jfeeding and cut-ting member, as this 'feeding and cutting' member moves back, the strand is allowed to move back under the tension oit the tension devices 37 and 4:6 until it is suddenly arrested by the stop pawl. or plate 9. The result is that there is a sudden movement given to the strand in a similar way as ilI one end oit a rope is given a wave movement. The result is, therefore, that this wave movement is imparted alongthe strand and travels from the arrested end, in engagement with the stop 9, towards the reel, with the result that the coil is released nearly halt way around the reel as shown in Figure l and also `Figure Fw. rl'lhe result is, therefore, that the strand. is released at it source, by loosening the un 'hiding coil, lea ving the source, 'from the remaining coils in the reel. This insures that the strand coil being unwound, is separated troni the adjacent coil or coils not by a pulling movement, but by a straight outward movement or radial movement applied to the coil over halt of its circumference. so that this coil is in eitect loosened by a radial movement, so that the heads ot the nails over that coil cannot catch. As a result, therefore, over halt of a coil is continually being loosened and unwound, and remains unwound during the operation of the machine, so that there is no pulling action at all and all danger ot lrinking and breaking is, therefore, avoided.

rlhis mechanism has an additional advantage in that as ya retrograde tension is applied to the strand, it is insured that this strand will always be positioned in correct position, with the head oit the last nail against the stop, so that this nail will always he in position and will not he overthrown during the speedy operation oit the machine. This is an important feature in string nailing machines where the string must be ted accurately to position the end face ol the head ot the nail at the cutting position.

It is obviousl that various changes may be made in the details ot construction witha out departing from the spirit ot this invention; it is, therefore. to be understood that this invention is not to he limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention., what is claimed is:

l. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a coiled source ott supply to operating means, comprising means for guiding the strand, and yielding means adapted to deflect the strand from its normal course at a plurality of spaced points along the strand, adapted to release the strand from the remaining coils ot stock at the source.

2. Mechanism tor feeding a strand ot' fastener stock from a coiled source of supply to operating means, comprising, means for guiding the strand, and yielding means adapted to deflect the strand from its normal course adjacent the source and the operating means respectively, adapted to release the strand from the remaining coils of stock at the source.

3. lllechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a coiled source of supply to operating means, comprising, means for guiding the strand, and means oppositely engaging the strand adapted to deflect the strand from its normal. course at a plurality oil spaced points along the strand, adapted to release the strand -from the remaining coils of stock at the source.

fil. h/[echanism for (Feeding a strand of' taste-ner stock from a. coiled source oi"Y supply to operating means, con'lprising, means 'for guiding the strand, and means engaging the strand adapted to oppositely deflect the strand yieldingly from its normal course at a plurality of spaced points along the strand, adapted to release the strand from the remaining coils of stock at the source.

5. Mechanism for :feeding a strand of fastener stock from a coiled source of supply to operating means, comprising, means for intermittently feeding the strand adapted to permit substantial retrograde movement of the strand, means for yieldingly restraining feeding movement of the strand, and means for arresting retrograde movement of the strand, adapted to release the strand from the remaining coils of stock at the source.

6. Mechanism for feedinga strand of fastener stock from. a reel to means for operating,` on .fastener stock, comprising, means for feeding the strand, means operating in timed relation therewith for causing the reel to move at the termination of the feed of the strand.

7. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a reel to means for operating on fastener stock, comprising, means for yieldingly dehecting` the strand, and means for restraining and suddenly releasing,` the reel.

8. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a reel to means for operating on fastener stock, comprising, means for yieldingly deflecting` the strand, and means for restraining` the reel adapted to cause sudden release thereof.

9. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from `a reel to means for operatingg` on fastener stock, comprising, means for yieldingly defleeting the strand, and means for restraining the reel adapted to cause sudden release thereof at the termination of the feed of the strand.

.n 1,436 oso l0. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a reel to means for operating` onA` fastener stock, comprising, means for yieldingly deflecting the strand, feeding means adapted to permit retrograde movement of the strand, and means for restraining the reel adapted to cause sudden release thereof.

ll. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a reel to means for operating on fastener stock7 comprising, means for yieldingly deflecting the strand, feeding means adapted to permit retrograde movement of the strand, and means for restraining the reel adapted to cause sudden release thereof at 'the termination of the feed of the strand.

l2. Mechanism for feeding a strand of fastener stock from a reel to means for operating on fastener stock, comprising, means for yieldingly delecting the strand, feeding means adapted to arrest the movement of the strand, and means for restraining the reel adapted to cause sudden release thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this nineteenth day of December, 1918.

STEPHEN A. DOBYNE. 

